Shahin Fat’hi told Tasnim on Saturday that 13 climbers had been reported missing after an incident occurred on the summit of Kolakchal.

Of those, three have returned home while seven are confirmed dead and the other three have not been found yet, he said.  

Fat’hi added that there has been no trace of twelve more hikers who went missing in Darabad and Ahar mountain areas as well as another area north of Tehran.

The search and rescue operation will continue on Sunday morning using helicopters, the official went on to say.